Aurora shootings suspect James Holmes makes first court appearance

The man suspected of killing 12 people and wounding 58 others in a shooting spree at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in the Denver suburb of Aurora, Colorado, has appeared in court for the first time.

James Holmes has made his first court appearance (Picture: Reuters)

James Holmes, 24, from San Diego, appeared in court with dyed orange-red hair and wearing a maroon prison jumpsuit in his first public appearance since being arrested outside the Century 16 cinema on Friday morning.

The neuroscience postgraduate student seemed dazed and appeared to be struggling to follow the legal proceedings and formalities in a ten-minute hearing at Arapahoe County Justice Centre in Centennial, 12 miles from Aurora.